To the Field of Stars – Gabriel Jackson

 

Intrada

Sung in Latin

 

First among apostles,

martyr in Jerusalem

James is made holy

by his extraordinary martyrdom.

 

When God the Father,

universal King,

bestowed each apostle authority

over an earthly province,

James, shining light of virtue

was chosen to enlighten Spain.

 

-Codex Calixtinus

 

 

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1. Prayer for Travelling

 

Life be in my speech,

Sense in what I say,

The bloom of cherries on my lips,

Till I come back again.

 

The love Christ Jesus gave

Be filling every heart for me,

The love Christ Jesus gave

Filling me for every one.

 

Traversing corries, traversing forests,

Traversing valleys long and wild.

The fair white Mary still uphold me,

The Shepherd Jesu be my shield,

The fair white Mary still uphold me,

The Shepherd Jesu be my shield.

 

-Carmina Gadelica, tr. Alexander Carmichael

 

Refrain Sung in Latin

 

Galicia asks for

the merciful aid of James,

his Glory illuminates

the earthly road

that the crowd may sing

songs of praise.

 

 

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2. Pilgrims’ Song with History Lesson

Pilgrims’ Greeting Sung in Latin

​

Oh Lord St. James,

Good St. James,

Forward, and onward!

Protect us, God!

 

I have always regretted that We could not find time to make a Pilgrimage to Saint Iago de Compostella. We were informed, particularly by Mr. Lagoanere, that the Original of this Shrine and Temple of St. Iago was this. A certain Shepherd saw a bright Light there in the night. Afterwards it was revealed to an Archbishop that St. James was buried there. This laid the Foundation of a Church, and they have built an Altar on the Spot where the Shepherd saw the Light. In the time of the Moors, the People made a Vow, that if the Moors should be driven from this Country, they would give a certain portion of the Income of their Lands to Saint James. The Moors were defeated and expelled and it was reported and believed, that Saint James was in the Battle and fought with a drawn Sword at the head of the Spanish Troops, on Horseback. The People, believing that they owed the Victory to the Saint, very cheerfully fulfilled their Vows by paying the Tribute. Upon the Supposition that this is the place of the Sepulture of Saint James, there are great numbers of Pilgrims, who visit it, every Year, from France, Spain, Italy and other parts of Europe, many of them on foot. Saint Iago is called the Capital of Gallicia, because it is the Seat of the Archbishop and because Saint James is its Patron.

 

-John Adams

 

Refrain Sung in Latin

 

The whole of mankind

freely gives thanks to James,

soldier of piety;

through his help

he redeems all, answering

our prayers.

 

 

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3. Walking with God

 

Oh! for a closer walk with God,

A calm and heavenly frame;

A light to shine upon the road

That leads me to the Lamb!

 

Where is the blessedness I knew

When first I saw the Lord?

Where is the soul-refreshing view

Of Jesus and his word?

 

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!

How sweet their memory still!

But they have left an aching void,

The world can never fill.

 

Return, O holy Dove, return,

Sweet messenger of rest;

I hate the sins that made thee mourn,

And drove thee from my breast.

 

The dearest idol I have known,

Whate'er that idol be;

Help me to tear it from thy throne,

And worship only thee.

 

So shall my walk be close with God,

Calm and serene my frame;

So purer light shall mark the road

That leads me to the Lamb.

 

-William Cowper

 

Refrain Sung in Latin

 

By the miracles

that James accomplishes

in the straits of danger

let whoever hopes

to be freed from his bonds

cry out to him.

 

 

 

4. Miracles

 

Why, who makes much of a miracle?

As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,

Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,

Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,

Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,

Or stand under trees in the woods,

Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in the bed at night with any one I love,

Or sit at table at dinner with the rest,

Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,

Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon,

Or animals feeding in the fields,

Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,

Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet and bright,

Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring;

These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,

The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.

 

-Walt Whitman

 

Refrain Sung in Latin

 

O blessed James

truly our strength,

take our enemies from us

and protect your people

and enable us your devotees

to please you.

 

 

 

5. Our Journey Had Advanced

 

Our journey had advanced;

Our feet were almost come

To that odd fork in Being's road,

Eternity by term.

 

Our pace took sudden awe,

Our feet reluctant led.

Before were cities, but between,

The forest of the dead.

 

Retreat was out of hope,

Behind, a sealed route,

Eternity's white flag before,

And God at every gate.

 

-Emily Dickinson

 

Refrain Sung in Latin

 

With James’s favor,

let us hope for forgiveness,

and give the due praises

that we rightly owe

to so outstanding

a Father. Amen.

 

 

 

6. Campus Stellae (The Field of Stars)

Soloist: Karen Cook

 

Aldebaran. Gorgonea Tertia. Minelava. Torcularis Septentrionalis. Betelgeuse. Hydrobius. Nair Al Saif. Ushakaron. Canopus. Izar. Okul. Vindemiatrix. Decrux. Jabbah. Polaris Australis.Wasat. Etamin. Kitalpha. Rotanev.Yed Posterior. Fum al Samakah. Lucida Anseris. Sirius. Zavijava. Elmuthalleth. Kornephoros. Ras Algethi. Terrebellum. Al Minliar al Asad. Shurnakabtishashutu. Proxima Centauri. Zuben-al-Akribi. Deneb Algedi. Miaplacidus. Vulpecula. Andromeda. Ursa Minor. Boötes. Tucana. Camelopardalis. Sagitta. Delphinus. Reticulum. Eridanus. Perseus. Fornax. Octans. Grus. Norma. Horologium. Microscopium. Indus. Leo Minor. Monoceros. Indus. Lacerta.

 

James, your servants’ hope and healing, restore to your people the life long yearned-for, that we may be found worthy to reach the heavenly citadels among the stars.

 

-Antiphon at First Vespers, Feast of St James

 

Zaurak. Sheliak. La Superba. Formalhaut. Yildun. Rigil Kentauris. Kaffaljidhma. Eltrain. Wezen. Pulcherrima. Jih. Deneb Kaitos Schemali. Vega. Okul. Izar. Cor Caroli. Unukalhai. Nashira. Head of Hydra. Birhan Isat.Talith Borealis. Menkalinen. Gienar Gunab. Alfecca Meridiana.

 

 

7. Compostela (O quam gloriosum)

Sung in Latin

 

O how glorious is the kingdom in which all the saints rejoice with Christ.

Clad in robes of white they follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

 

-Magnificat Antiphon at Second Vespers, Feast of All Saints

 

O light and glory of Spain, most holy James, who, pre-eminent among the apostles, was the first to be crowned with the laurels of martyrdom.

O singular protector, who deservedly saw our Redeemer when, after his mortal life, he was made divine, grant the prayers of your servants, and intercede for our salvation, and that of all peoples.

 

-Magnificat Antiphon at Second Vespers, Feast of St James